After arriving in Houston, Bertha went to visit her mentor.
Meanwhile, John accompanied Sophia to the Long family estate. The atmosphere there was tense—like ants scrambling on a hot pan.
The head of the Long family, Arno Long, was on his deathbed. His final breath seemed imminent, and everyone knew: if Arno died, the Long family would descend into chaos.
Among Houston's elite, survival was a brutal game.
Even though the Martial Arts League's headquarters was based in Houston, martial artists rarely dared to flaunt their power publicly. But beneath the surface, things were far murkier.
True capital accumulation among the rich and powerful often came through shameless means—skirting the rules, exploiting others, and seizing resources with no regard for honor. In this world, the winner was king; the loser, just another casualty.
Did the Martial Arts League truly stand for justice?
As with any group driven by interests—some among its leadership had already allied with the city's greedy aristocrats.
That's why placing hope in the League to protect the Long family after Arno's death was a gamble at best—and likely a losing one.
The Swift family had already learned that lesson the hard way when they lost the protection of the White Dragon King.
And now, the Long family found itself in the same dire straits—desperation hanging thick in the air.
When Sophia returned home, her father, Buck Long, was waiting anxiously.
"Sophia," he asked the moment she stepped in, "did Miss Moore tell you about the opportunity?"
The rest of the Long family members crowded around, their expressions hopeful and tense.
All their hopes now rested on her answer.
Sophia nodded. "Yes, Anita told me."
"Really?" Buck's eyes lit up. "Quick, tell us—what is it?"
With a sweet, slightly awkward smile, Sophia replied, "The opportunity Miss Moreno mentioned is… Mr. Lopez—the most handsome man in the world."
Her cheeks turned red the moment the words left her mouth.
She hated saying it.
It wasn't her style to praise a man like that. She found it nauseating. But she had no choice.
Just before they entered the estate, John had jokingly warned her to introduce him well—or else his mood might affect his medical skills.
Of course, she knew he was teasing.
But when the moment came, she hesitated… and ended up blurting out that ridiculous line: "The most handsome man in the world."
Unsurprisingly, the entire Long family stared at her in stunned silence, expressions caught between disbelief and confusion.
Sophia? Complimenting a man like that?
Who was this man who made her speak such words? And why was he the key to the Long family's future?
Their eyes slowly turned to John.
Sophia quickly added, "This is Mr. Lopez, Anita's sworn brother. He's also the disciple of Perry Moreno—the famous doctor making waves in the State of New York recently."
She repeated exactly what Anita had told her.
The disciple of Perry Moreno?
Gasps rippled through the room. Buck's eyes lit up as he bent forward excitedly.
"Mr. Lopez, please—come inside!"
They had noticed John earlier but hadn't paid much attention to him. Now that they knew his identity, everything changed.
A disciple of Perry Moreno must be extraordinary.
Buck didn't dare underestimate him.
But John waved his hand. "No need. Take me to the patient first."
Buck didn't hesitate. "Of course—this way, Mr. Lopez."
He led John to Arno's bedroom.
Though Arno could no longer speak, his eyes and ears were still functioning.
Buck leaned over and explained who John was. In response, Arno blinked, clearly trying to express his welcome.
"Father," Buck said earnestly, "Mr. Lopez will cure you."
Then he stepped aside, bowed respectfully, and gestured. "Please."
John nodded. "Have everyone leave the room, except Sophia. I'll need her help."
"Yes, sir."
Buck immediately ushered everyone out, then turned to his daughter with a serious look. "Sophia, do everything Mr. Lopez asks. Understand?"
She nodded.
Once the room was quiet, John turned to the slightly tense Sophia and smiled.
"Relax. I'm not asking you to do anything complicated. I just need some information about your grandfather."
Hearing that, Sophia let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.
She wasn't trained in medicine and had worried she might screw something up. But this—she could handle.
John stepped forward and began taking Arno's pulse. He pressed three fingers on different points of the old man's body, channeling his vital energy through the meridians to assess the internal condition.
After a while, John spoke slowly.
"Your grandfather's meridians are in complete disarray. His body is riddled with congestion, especially near the heart. There's a toxin attached there as well. Honestly, it's a miracle he's survived this long."
Sophia explained, "The poison's been there a while. It wasn't too serious at first. But after a fight with the White Dragon King, it shifted and lodged near the heart."
Her expression turned grave. "Mr. Lopez… can you cure him?"
John gave her a confident smile.
"This kind of toxin?" he said calmly. "It's nothing to me. He'll be fine."